SACD Foreigner – Double Vision

Double Vision as a hybrid stereo SACD from the Atlantic 75 Series: Foreigner’s second album, with “Hot Blooded”, the title track and “Blue Morning, Blue Day”. All ten tracks play in one sequence – from “Hot Blooded” to “Spellbinder”.

A second album with plenty to discover

Foreigner released their second studio album, Double Vision, in 1978. It was recorded at Sound City in California and produced by Keith Olsen with Mick Jones and Ian McDonald. Lou Gramm sings, Jones and McDonald play guitars and other instruments, Al Greenwood plays keyboards, Ed Gagliardi bass and Dennis Elliott drums.

“Hot Blooded” and the title track became huge singles – yet across ten tracks the band moves through far more settings than those two songs suggest. Guitar riffs, ballads and an instrumental keep shifting the focus.

Lou Gramm and a passing phrase

Gramm recalled hearing the phrase “double vision” during a televised hockey game – and a line of commentary became the album’s title. A lovely reminder that a big rock production can start with a small observation far away from the studio.

“Blue Morning, Blue Day” opens another window onto his role. Follow the path into the chorus: what changes in the accompaniment, and where does Gramm place the vocal line? Arrangement and singer build the movement together.

An instrumental shifts the focus

“Tramontane” puts the instrumental writing in the spotlight, credited to Al Greenwood, Ian McDonald and Mick Jones. It draws your ear to the keyboards and to a part of the band that the familiar vocal hits rarely show.

Jones sings lead on “Back Where You Belong” and “I Have Waited So Long”. Hearing these next to Gramm’s performances shows how roles were shared in this particular line-up – the album’s identity includes both voices.

The Atlantic 75 hybrid stereo SACD

CAPA 049 SA is a hybrid stereo SACD from the Analogue Productions Atlantic 75 Series. According to the publisher, the album reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200, and the single “Double Vision” climbed to No. 2. The SACD layer plays on SACD-capable players, the CD layer on any conventional CD player. The disc contains the ten tracks of the original album.

You order from Michael 45 in Germany. We arrange the US import and ship from Hilden.

More from the series: Atlantic 75 Series

Also in another edition: Double Vision

More SACDs by Foreigner: Foreigner · 4 · Head Games

Customer question: Buying Analogue Productions records in Europe

Musicians

Documented selection of participating musicians. Personnel may vary by track; this list does not claim to be complete.